Doesn't Recommend

riggsbee

Joined 6 years ago

Not worth the very long wait ( and they underestimated that by nearly 30 minutes). Longer Wait than promised - Not worth it.

This was our third time to Porters. I agree with others the atmosphere is great. Unfortunately the night we went it ws clear there was some catered event in another room somewhere as wait staff kept going out some door with food. We were told 20 to 30 minute wait and it was 50 minutes. The normal chairs in the wait area were gone, so we had to stand. Once finally seated - the food took forever, 45 minutes from after our drinks came, our dinner came. And the topper ? 2 of the 3 of us had poor dinners. My wife had a piece of salmon that she said was as good as she makes. My daughter had some pasta and told me that it was far worse than she has had almost anywhere ( and she has very good taste). I had a salad - it was awful. The croutons looked like french fry bits that were pulled from the bottom of the deep fryer. Except they were soggy. Bottom line - total disappointment and we won't go back - unless it is just for a beer and maybe a burger

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jennyc123

Joined 6 years ago

Not all it's cracked up to be... The food was alright, but definitely not worth the price. The portions were border-line small. Also, the large party I was with was seated in the back room which made me feel cut off from getting the full effect of the restaurant. The enviromnent created at Porters was not that impressive, especially not for the price you're paying for a "nice" meal. The one thing they did have going for them was the chocolate creme brulee. Other than that, I probably would not return.

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rob1977nc

Joined 10 years ago

Adding class to Hillsborough Street. This place, along with its sister restaurant, Fraziers, is just what Hillsborough Street needs more of! Great food, great service, great atmosphere. The Sunday Brunch is also great...it's THE place in west raleigh to be on a sunday afternoon! When it's warm, they open up the patio which is great for eating and watching people go by.

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rossmck

Joined 10 years ago

Casual meets quality. We've been to Porter's Tavern three times now. Each time has fully met our expectations. The food is excellent and reasonably priced, the service prompt and helpful (it's causual enough that you pour your own wine through the meal), and the atmosphere friendly. The wine list is decent, although not flashy. I'd say it's a better place for a nice dinner for two than a big group (we've done both), mainly because they don't seem to have many tables for groups of 5 or larger. The tavern chips are dynamite - but don't order them for two unless you don't mind turning back leftovers. The serving is about right for five.

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mscaulk

Joined 7 years ago

Great place for a casual dinner. This place is fantastic. The food is great, wonderful service, good value, and just an enjoyable meal. I recommend it to anyone looking for a good meal.

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threadbenders

Joined 7 years ago

An exciting find and rare gem. Saturday night was my first time to hear and visit Porter's.

I was very pleasantly surprised. To begin, I was expecting a much younger group ...... and was glad to see my peers were a substantional percentage..... 40 to 60's.

The service was excellent; the wait staff were very well mannered, timely, courteous and considerate. The kind of service I expect but rarely find. The food was wonderful as well. I had the flat iron steak and potatoes gratin. Yummy! My daughter had a pasta chicken dish she loved and I tasted. I may order it next time. The only drawback was I asked for more bread just as the meal was arriving we never got. We had Mocha Creme Brulee for dessert and it was perfection!

The wine list was also very nice. I would suggest adding two more non-Chardonnay whites to the By the Glass list. A Gavi and another Sauvignon Blanc Fume Blanc or Pinot Gris/Grigio. Next time I'll check out the reds.

We were there when it was VERY busy (standing room only) and the noise was almost deafening. I would suggest some soft art on the walls and or perhaps some rugs like the beautiful one in the lobby that might help absorb some of the sound. The soft ceiling tiles just don't do the job alone. I was impressed with the decor. Upscale and relaxed are hard to marry well and Porter's has done so very successfully.

The drawbacks are obvious: parking being the main one.

I live near North Ridge and would be VERY excited for you to open a Porter's II in North Raleigh. Meanwhile, I will be back to Porter's on Hillsborough St.

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jersey421

Joined 8 years ago

Great night out. I have been to Porter's 3 or 4 times and have never been disappointed. The service is good along with the drinks and food. If you need a date restaurant this is it.

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dbdarr

Joined 7 years ago

Great "go-to" place. My wife and I have dined here many times and have always found the service and food to be wonderful. We've tried several items off the menu and have never been disappointed. The Flat-iron steak and fish tacos are especially good. The dinner specials are unique and always tasty. The prices are also quite reasonable. The wine list is okay for the type of resturant it is. Ambience is good, it can get noisy, and parking can be a problem. Overall one of the best meals for the price to be had Inside the Beltline.

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Contributor

Joined 10 years ago

A nearly perfect, reasonably priced tavern from the owners of Frazier's.. The Scene
Porter's raises the bar for casual bistro dining in Raleigh. Attention to detail is apparent in the design, service and food. City denizens and suburbanites will feel comfortable in this upscale space--muted gray tones and sleek wood chairs add sophistication without pretension. Many staff members are future restaurateurs and it shows in the quality of service.

The Food
The food is eclectic, fun, plentiful, inexpensive--and really good. Dishes range from sandwiches and burgers to pasta and steaks. Seafood po'boys come with a spicy Creole remoulade. Most of the seafood is locally caught. Veal stock and cheddar make rich, heavenly shrimp and grits. For some tavern fusion, try some of the inventive nachos: Thai chicken, Cajun, Southwestern or the chef's special duck lasagna. The sesame-seared rare tuna on a bed of pickled cucumber and red onion comes with wasabi-cream sauce for an extra kick.

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pendleburyt

Joined 7 years ago

Absolutely wonderful. Not surprisingly, this restaurant has received a number of excellent reviews from those using Citysearch. It has excellent food and is in a wonderful location. The service was good. I will definitely return to Porter's-- I have so far been there only twice. I particularly liked the "unsoutern" ambience mentioned by another user. It is just wonderful.